Small town battles fastfood giant

The petition to stop McDonald's building in Tecoma, Victoria has gained more than 94,000 signatures. Photo / AP

The David versus Goliath battle between residents from a small Australian town and fastfood giant McDonald's has moved to Chicago.

A four-person delegation from Tecoma, Victoria will go to McDonald's global headquarters in Chicago today to hand over a petition with more than 94,000 signatures.

The Tecoma residents' group wants to block construction of a McDonald's restaurant, including a 24-hour drive-through, in their town of about 2000 people.

"They know we're coming," Tecoma resident Garry Muratore said.

"I rang them on Friday to let them know we were coming and they said, 'Just mail the petition to us'.

"I said 'No, we haven't come halfway around the world to just mail it' and then they wouldn't put my call through to anyone in their corporate responsibility department."

Muratore said the proposed McDonald's is too close to a kindergarten, primary school and national park, will change the landscape of the Dandenong Ranges town and will hurt local mum-and-dad businesses.

As well as the petition on change.org, the group received A$40,000 ($45,560) through community donations to fund the trip and pay for a US$15,000 ($18,360) half-page ad in the Chicago Tribune.